, 1887-12-29
ONE OF THE RICHEST DIS
TRICTS OF THE PACIFIC
NORTHWEST.
A Review Of the Mining Work
OF the Past, and Pospects
Of the Future.
ny j. II. SLATER,

That portion Of Stevens county
wing east of the Columbia river,
comprising an area Of 5000 square
miles, is the Colville country, and IL
truly the paradise Of Washington
territory, If not of the great north
west. Itisa beautiful and as we'll II
remarkable country. Its wealth, IN
prlmative excellence, bestowed upon
IL by nature, adapts 1t to the greatest
diversity OF boundless and prolific
resources, chief amorg & which are
agriculture, stock.raising, lumber
lug and mining. It's past as far as
would interest the average reader
may as we'll rest where 1t belongs, In
the annals of history. What II is is
the strongest evidence OF the great
future that can aud will he wrought
by the establishment and mal"ten-
ance of large and emuuerative In
dustries.
THE CITY OF COLvILLE
IL one OF those inland towns which
Is full of business. 1t has populn-
ton OF nearly 800; Is situated OIL
miles north OF Spokane Falls ana
isolated to that exteut from railroad
com muication. That IL n feature
stron gly against it, I'm view OF the
fact that the amount OF traffic neces
sary to stimulate the retarded pro-
gress af the revolution Of enterprise,
Is too great to be accomplished by
wagon transportation. 1t is located
on slight elevation overlooking the
Colville valley on the west and 1G
miles above the mouth Of that
stream which is Tributary to the
Columbia river. The county slr-
rounding is mostly settled by II fine
and industrious class OF people and
the land near the city Is improved
10 a degree that indicates thrifty
population. The Colville river truv-
erses distance OF GO miles from
southeast to northwest, and the val
ley along its course varying from
one to- five miles in width, is level,
growth Of vegetation Is exceedingly
prolific, more especially In hay and
cereal products. The outskirts of
the valley give rise to series Of
foothills, on both sides which are
covered with a fine growth Of pine,
tir and tnInarac timber, interspersed
with open strips Of country clothed
IN bunch grass. These hills slope
away back to the mountains, and
constitute perpetual range for live
stock. These uplHnds are well cal
culated for farming purposes us well
as for stock, and much of Ii Is beiug
taken up by new settlers, who feel
Hattered by the results OF their efforts
10 make homes on what looks NJ first
sight, to be ~ small margin for
existence. The mountains on either
siue protect the entire region from
the harsh chill Of winter and their
snow.cOvered crests In summer serve
good purpose in moderatlng the
temperature to that point which
makes our climate ii thing of pleas
ure and a JOY from one years end to
another. The emigrant seeking a
place where he can secure absolute
can find his sanguine dream to be Il
reality, would become infatuated and
st first sight with the charms oi
this country. The gorgeous. pictures
ennnaiing from ang, lie Imagination
are here spread out before. the traV'
eler In all the splendor of nature.
1t Is not an uncommon question tC
bt, asked
Is THE CoIvILLE REGION A MINING
COUNTRY?
1t Is, and one Of the greatest i'm
pOrtancp. 1t Is easy OF access, ha'
not n single natural hindrance t.
advancement and possesses almos
every character Of ore common to
mineral country. The ores Of tn
country abound in the lime belt
which pass through the country from
southe,, to northwest at interval
of from five to eight miles apart ant
varying in width from one thousan'
feet to three miles. i he ore deposit
are large, more particularly thos
bearing galena, and compatible elt
ments necessary to reduction OF ore
and to extract the bullion abound !
quantities to suit. The Old d.
Ininion mountain six miles east
Colville, has furnished the creates
source Of precious metals during IN
past two years Of any mine In Wasf
ingt0n territory, lead and silvt
being the chief product. The Ol
Dominion mine asdiscovered in II
sprIng OF 1885, and since July
that year it'll estimated half
million of dollars have been take
from the property. This mine pc
se.ses an eight foot vein OF o
which has been followed distant
of $50 feet and has produced silv